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101/2
ENGLISH
PAPER 2
(Comprehension, literary Appreciation and Grammar)
DECEMBER– 2021
Time: 2 ½ hours

BUNAMFAN CLUSTER EXAMINATION - 2021

ENGLISH PAPER 2
(Comprehension, literary Appreciation and Grammar)
DECEMBER– 2021
Time: 2 ½ hours

Instructions
(a) Write your name, index number in the spaces provided above this paper.
(b) All questions in this paper are compulsory.
(c) Answer ALL questions in the spaces provided.

For Official Use Only

Question Maximum Candidate’s
Score Score
1 20

2 25

3 20

4 15

80

TOTAL

This paper consists of 9 printed pages. Students should check the question paper to ensure that all pages
are printed as indicated and that no questions are missing.
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1. Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
This article is a response to Tom Odhiambo’s article in Saturday Nation of 25th January 2014
entitled, Where is the Evidence of Big Literary Debates in the 1960s and 70s. The writer took on
Egara Kabaji’s sentiments that the Kenyan academy is dead. He also castigated Taban Lolyong
on his assertion that Kenyan critics cannot read books, critique them and publish their findings. I
wish to differ with the writer on a number of issues; these are the rubbishing of the scholar’s
nostalgia and the blanket proclamation that there are hardly mentors in our universities today.
As much as Egara Kabaji’s assertion is an overstatement, upcoming literary scholars like us,
partly agree with him that unlike now, there was a humongous literary appetite in the 1960s and
70s. The robust creative output of our fathers like Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Ngugu Wa
Thiong’o, Peter Abrahams and Alex La Guma fitted aptly with the roaring appetite and curiosity
of African audiences at the time. The clamor for independence that characterized postcolonial
era led to a magnetic reception of their works. Furthermore, value systems of the people at the
time were untainted by materialism; consequently, they thirsted for knowledge and wisdom.
People create authors. Their faith creates heroes. Their great passion for ideas at the time created
great authors like Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka and Ngugi Wa Thiong’o. Critics were their
prophets – they had the ability to interpret what authors said to the people. Therefore, they rode
on the wings of the authors. The authors were deities. Their audiences crowned and glorified
them, so did the critics. The literary conferences of the sixties and seventies were sterling, not
because the authors and critics were more dedicated than today’s. They were eminent because
they drew inspiration from the people of their time. If Professor Egara Kabaji says the Kenyan
academy is dead, he might have overstated his observation but we ought to not shut him down. If
a medium no longer receives oracles, his deity could be dead. A deity is dead if people no longer
believe in him. They have changed their attitude towards him perhaps because they think they
have a better option.
In other words, there is a considerable attitude change in the populace towards literature since the
eighties and this is the deadly virus that all literary scholars, including Tom Odhiambo, should
try to find a cure. The replication of materialism that came with a boom in science and
technology on one hand and escalation of poverty on the other hand, have eroded the passion for
most genres of literature. Poverty trains the mind to idolize the material and scoff at the idea
since the poor person pursues survival. The material is apt for survival just as wisdom is apt for
success. Literature, which is a subset of knowledge under the rationalism school of philosophy,
upholds the abstract aspects of humanity inconsistent to the prevalent materialism.
With proliferation of science and technology, the empiricism school of philosophy that holds that
knowledge is what you acquire via the five senses is carrying the day. Critics and authors may
burn their midnight oil to write and publish but for a market that is interested in procurement and
entrepreneurship courses to start money minting businesses and glue themselves on social media
and Hollywood movies since they disseminate knowledge by sight. When will they have time for
JKS Makokha’s thesis on Vassanji’s novels?

Questions
a) On which issues does the writer disagree with Tom Odhiambo? (2 marks)
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b) Contrast the attitude of people towards literature in the 60s and in the present world. Give
reasons for your answer. (4 marks)
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c) According to the passage, what has lowered the motivation of critics? (3 marks)
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d) Mention some of the things that have caused diminishing reading culture of the traditional story
book. (3 marks)
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e) Relate the emergence of materialism to the death of literature. (3 marks)
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f) Literature, which is a subset of knowledge under the rationalism school of philosophy, upholds
the abstract aspects of humanity inconsistent to the prevalent materialism. (Rewrite the sentence
by omitting the relative pronoun) (1 mark)
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g) Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the passage. (4 marks)
i) castigated ……………………………………………………………………………….
ii) robust ……………………………………………………………………………………
iii) clamour …………………………………………………………………………………..
iv) replication …………………………………………………………………………………
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2. Read the excerpt below and answer the questions that follow
Nora. Yes, you have been awfully kind about that; but you could just as well dismiss some other
clerk instead of Krogstad.
Helmer. This is simply incredible obstinacy! Because you chose to give him a thoughtless
promise that you would speak for him, I am expected to--
Nora. That isn't the reason, Torvald. It is for your own sake. This fellow writes in the most
scurrilous newspapers; you have told me so yourself. He can do you an unspeakable amount of
harm. I am frightened to death of him--
Helmer. Ah, I understand; it is recollections of the past that scare you.
Nora. What do you mean?
Helmer. Naturally you are thinking of your father.
Nora. Yes--yes, of course. Just recall to your mind what these malicious creatures wrote in the
papers about papa, and how horribly they slandered him. I believe they would have procured his
dismissal if the Department had not sent you over to inquire into it, and if you had not been so
kindly disposed and helpful to him.
Helmer. My little Nora, there is an important difference between your father and me. Your
father's reputation as a public official was not above suspicion. Mine is, and I hope it will
continue to be so, as long as I hold my office.
Nora. You never can tell what mischief these men may contrive. We ought to be so well off, so
snug and happy here in our peaceful home, and have no cares--you and I and the children,
Torvald! That is why I beg you so earnestly--
Helmer. And it is just by interceding for him that you make it impossible for me to keep him. It
is already known at the Bank that I mean to dismiss Krogstad. Is it to get about now that the new
manager has changed his mind at his wife's bidding--
Nora. And what if it did?
Helmer. Of course!--if only this obstinate little person can get her way! Do you suppose I am
going to make myself ridiculous before my whole staff, to let people think that I am a man to be
swayed by all sorts of outside influence? I should very soon feel the consequences of it, I can tell
you! And besides, there is one thing that makes it quite impossible for me to have Krogstad in
the Bank as long as I am manager.
Nora. Whatever is that?

Questions
a) Briefly explain the events that had taken place before this excerpt. (3 marks)
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b) “Yes, you have been awfully kind about that” what is Nora referring to? (2 marks)
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c) Why does Nora earnestly beg Helmer to retain Krogstad in the bank? (3 marks)
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d) Comment on the character of Helmer and Nora as seen in this excerpt. (4 marks)
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e) “And it is just by interceding for him that you make it impossible for me to keep him.” From
within and without the excerpt, give four reasons cited by Helmer as to why he can’t keep
Krogstad in the bank. (4 marks)
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f) Identify and explain one theme evident in this excerpt. (2 marks)
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g) From your understanding of the rest of the play, who is Krogstad and Why is he so determined to
fight for his small post at the bank. (4 marks)
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h) You never can tell what mischief these men may contrive. (add a question tag) (1 mark)
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5
i) What happens immediately after this excerpt? (2 marks)
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3. Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow: (20 marks)

Tears in Heaven
Would you know my name?
If I saw you in heaven
Would it be the same?
If I saw you in heaven

I must be strong
And carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven

Would you hold my hand?

If I saw you in heaven
Would you help me stand?
If I saw you in heaven

I'll find my way

Through night and day
'Cause I know I just can't stay
Here in heaven

Time can bring you down

Time can bend your knees
Time can break your heart
Have you begging “please”
Begging” please”

Beyond the door

There's peace, I'm sure
And I know there'll be no more
Tears in heaven

Would you know my name?

If I saw you in heaven
Would you be the same?
If I saw you in heaven

I must be strong
And carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven
( Source: Clapton, E., Jennings, W. Warner Bros Records)

6
 Questions
a) Classify the oral poem above. (2 marks)
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b) What makes this an oral poem? (6 marks)
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c) Explain what the poem is about? (3 marks)
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d) What is the prevailing mood in this poem? (3 marks)

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e) Explain the meaning of the following line: (2 marks)
'Cause I know I just can't stay
Here in heaven
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f) What do we learn about the persona? (2 marks)
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g) What is the tone of the poem in stanza 6? (2 marks)
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4. Grammar. (15 marks)

a) Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Do not change
the meaning. (3 marks)
(i) Who gave you this gift? (Rewrite in passive.)
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(ii) He is intelligent but he must still work hard. (Begin: Intelligent.....)
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(iii) I did not know you then and so I couldn’t help you. (Rewrite beginning: Had……….)
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b) In each of the following sentences provide one word for the underlined words. (2 marks)
(i) The young, beautiful Teresa surprised everybody present when she took a vow of remaining
unmarried all her life.
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(ii) James said that his sister suffers from a disease that prevents her from sleeping.
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c) Use the correct form of the word in brackets to complete the sentences. (3 marks)
(i) The teacher had nothing but ………………………………. (admire) for the top KCSE student
(ii) Jaoko still wants more food even after clearing a whole plateful of Ugali. His appetite is
simply………………………………………. (Satisfy).
(iii) To prove his youthful …………………………….., the young man went after the Lion.
(brave)

d) Choose the correct pronoun to complete the following sentences (3 marks)

i.) The girls, _________________ (she/her) and Joan, won the tournament.
ii.) My mother sent James and___________________ to the shop. ( me, I )
iii.)It is____________________ that escorted him to the airport. ( us, we)

e) Replace the underlined word with a phrasal verb. (3 marks)

(a) We felt completely disappointed by John’s performance.

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(b) Sharleen is currently living with her sister-in-law in Lagos.
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(c) The governor was annoyed with his deputy who appeared to undermine him..
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f) The following sentence has more than one meaning. Explain the ambiguity.. (2 marks)
(i) Put your hands together for Tom
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